Texas PD goes back to traditional cars

By ANNA M. TINSLEY Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - Black and white is back.

After weeks of discussion and debate, the City Council voted 8-1 on Tuesday to change the design of police cars -- for the fourth time in less than a decade -- to a traditional black-and-white design that supporters say will boost police visibility.

"We've had this design or that design through the years," said Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Silcox, who proposed the change. "Let's just design a police car that looks like a police car."

The black-and-white police cars will still sport the city's longhorn Molly logo on the front doors, with black lettering that spells out Fort Worth police. The current police cars are white with a multicolored decal on the car doors.

City Manager Charles Boswell said the department should be able to absorb the additional cost, which some estimates put as high as $50,000 a year. The council also approved a 10-year moratorium on future changes.

Councilwoman Becky Haskin cast the sole vote against the design.

"It's a waste of tax dollars," she said. "Police officers tell us all the time that they want cars that run. They've never said they have to be black and white."